Improvement in motive powee



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IMPROVEMENT IN MOTIVE POWER.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. GLENN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a now and useful Improvement in Motive Power; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, -and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a. side elevation, partly in section, of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the samc.' p

Figure 3is a. vertical transverse section of the same,the plane of section being indicated by the line :a :v, fig. 2.

Similarlettersof reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new driving-gear for vehicles of all classes, such as are usedfor transporting goods through cities, or for conveying passengers from one place to another. It is peculiarly adaptable for. swampy and sandy ground, and can even be used as a conveyor of motion to floating structures.

The invention is based upon the self-rail-laying principle, and consists in arranging on either side of the 7 car or wagon-frame a continuous or endless rail, around which a. series of rollers is arranged, said rollers being secured to suitable heads, which are connected by bars, chains, or cords into an endless chain. The aforesaid rollers fit around both sides of the endless rail, so as to well guided thereon and supported thereby. By drawing the whole vehicle forward, or by moving the chain, the whole device will be set in motion. As the Whole vehicle rests upon the heads which hold the rollers, or upon shoes or rails secured to the heads, it will move along as a. new section of the chain is laid upon the ground in front, while one is taken up in rear.

The apparatus operates with great ease; and can be steered with facility, and driven by steam, or muscular I or any other suitable power.

A represents a rectangular or other wooden or metallic frame, which is connected with the vehicle in any suitable manner. To its sides are secured two endless rails B B, which may, if desired, be connected with the frame A by elastic cushions G, as shown. The endless rails B are made of steel, or iron, or any other suitable material, and are, as shown in fig. 1, made with level or horizontal upper and, lower sides, and with rounded front and rear ends. D are two endless chains, consisting each of a suitable number of metal plates or heads, a, and of rods, chains, bars, or ropes b, all of equal length, to connect the heads with each other. The heads are thus all equally far apart. Upon one surface of each head a are arranged two or more rollers E E, which project from that side of the head on which the rail B is arranged. If two rollers are used, one fits over and one under the rail, so as to grasp the same between them. I consider it advisable to use at least three rollers on each head, as shown in fig. 1, in which case two rollers, E E, are arranged on the outside, and the third roller E on the inside of the rail. The outer rollers E should be of so much larger diameter than the inner as the proportion between the length of the outer and inner edges of the rail requires.

The two chains D used on each vehicle are connected with each otherby means of suitable connecting-rods F F, which are fastened with their ends in the heads a. The rollers E E have flanges on one or both sides, but the same are so arrauged as to give the chain some lateral play on the rail for steering purposes. The ends of the heads a are either provided with suitable shoes or with rails or plates, by which they are supported on the ground. 7

When motive power is applied directly to the frame 'A the rails 13 move in the chains D, and as the weight of the vehicle holds the lower part of the chain to the ground, the chain will be set in motion, placing one section in front'of the-vehicleupon the ground and taking up the last one in rear. Thus a track or set of shoes is continually placed upon the ground under the vehicle, and supports the same without rubbing or occasioning' friction on the surface-of the ground like ordinary wheels. All thefriction is created between the rollers EE' and the rails B, which can be made so smooth and accurate that the device will move without any shocks. When power is applied directlyto the chain by any suitable mechanism the sectionsof the chain are laid upon and taken from the ground, and the rails 13 must follow such motions of the chain.

For swampy or sandy ground this apparatus will be of great service. It can be then provided with broad shoes or rails on the ends of the heads, and thereby it will move quicklyover the ground without sinking into the some. i l

The rails B may be made so that their-upper and lower parts are far enough apart to allow the body of the ear to be built between the uppeuand lower portion of the chains. If desired, the body of the car or wagon may also be arranged above the rails and chains. When the heads of the rails are connected with suitable buoys which are strong enough that those which are always at one time on the under side of the mil will keep a vessel or structure built upon the frame A afloat, then the invention may also be used to propel vessels. In that case the buoys would act as motors to propel the vessel over the water, and would at the same tinie keep it floating so as not to be deep in water. For ordinary vehicles the chains may be connected with a suitable steeringdever, by which they are drawn a little to one or the other side, whereby the required direction will be imparted to the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Pate nt, is-

1. 'The endless rails 13 B, when secured to any suitable kind of vehicles or crafts, and when connected with the rollers EE, moving on the inner and outer edges of the rails, substantially as and for the. purpose herein shown and described.

2. The endless chain D, consisting of the heads a a, which are connected by rods, chains, ortheir equivalents longitudinally, and by suitable connecting-rods laterally, and when provided with rollers E and E, so as to work'nvithiu and around the endless rails B B, as set forth.

3. A driving-gear for vehicles and craft, made and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

' JAMES K. GLENN.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMARA, ALEX. F. Rounnrs. 

